Fri, 13 Sep 2019 16:04:49 -0600WeeblyThu, 24 Jan 2019 17:23:16 GMThttps://www.bozemansymphony.org/blog/scandal-speculation-and-mystery-the-unfinished-symphony​Franz Schubert’s “Unfinished Symphony,” known as one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in classical music involving almost two centuries of gossip and intrigue, will be the centerpiece of performances presented by Bozeman Symphony on February 2nd and 3rd.

Schubert composed the first two movements of his Symphony No. 8, commonly known as the “Unfinished Symphony,” in 1822 and lived for six more years after the completion of these movements. So why didn’t he finish it? Musicologists and music lovers have been trying to decide why Schubert never finished this symphony for almost two centuries to no avail. Was he just not excited by it? Did he have other things to write and never got back to it? Did he think it had little value as music? He did go on to write the fantastically successful 9th Symphony, so he obviously wasn’t through composing.

Composer Franz Schubert; Credit: Josef Kriehuber, Public Domain

Perhaps the reason for speculation and intrigue surrounding the Symphony is that very few facts are known about it. Schubert left us with only two movements and a sketch of a Scherzo, which we assume would take its place as a third movement. A symphony, however, is a piece that has four movements. Up through 1822, no work in the form of a symphony was comprised of only two or three movements. It was always four.

Adding to the mystery, the “Unfinished Symphony” wasn’t discovered until the 1860s, more than thirty years after Schubert’s death. In 1823 the Graz Music Society presented Schubert with an honorary degree. In return, Schubert felt obliged to present the Society with a symphony dedicated to them. He sent his unfinished work, along with at least the first two pages of his scherzo to longtime friend and member of the Graz Music Society, Anselm Hüttenbrenner.

No one knows why, but Hüttenbrenner never let anyone know he had the score - even the Graz Society. It remained secretly in his possession until nearing the end of his life, he revealed the score giving the masterpiece its world premiere in Vienna on December 17th in 1865.

Score to the third movement of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony; Credit: Schubert, Public Domain.

Musicologists speculated for several decades that because of Hüttenbrenner’s secrecy, perhaps there were two more movements hidden in an attic somewhere in Vienna. However, it is now certain that Schubert left us only with two incomparable movements of music, both thrilling and sublime. Alan Leech, principal bassoon of the Bozeman Symphony, shares: “I have always thought that perhaps the reason Schubert did not complete the other movements of this work was that he had “painted himself into a corner,” and wasn’t certain where to go from there. There are beautiful woodwind and string melodies to be heard, and the flowing tunes are very endearing. Whenever I hear the two movements of this symphony, I find them reasonably complete and satisfying: they do seem to speak for themselves, and perhaps I understand why he left just the two movements unattended by additional ones.”A few other details add to the intrigue. In late 1822 Schubert contracted syphilis and subsequently suffered from depression and failing health. Some have also speculated that he was almost paralyzed by learning about Beethoven’s symphonic form innovations. Others claimed that Schubert was obsessed with composing his Wander Fantasy for solo piano. And finally, many have speculated that the material intended for the fourth movement was used as the entr’acte for the incidental music for Rosamunde. These reasons are merely circumstantial. No definitive proof supports any of these theories.

What is known: Schubert gave us two movements that can be best described as perfection. Precious gems in the treasure trove of symphonic music. They have remained stalwarts of the standard repertoire immediately from the time they were premiered. Moreover, the “Unfinished Symphony” occupies a special place in the history of music as the first Romantic Symphony - a bridge from the Classical period to the Romantic period due to its lyrical motivation, and an orchestration not solely designed for functionality. Schubert’s two movements are a masterpiece and cherished the world over year after year.

Wendy's musical background is extremely impressive having performed as a clarinetist in “The President’s Own” Marine Band performing for Presidents George W. Bush and Barrack Obama, along with several orchestras including the Colorado Symphony, Cheyenne Symphony, Ft. Collins Symphony and New Orchestra of Washington. We couldn't be more thrilled to have Wendy in our community!​ A big thank you to Wendy for sharing her life inside and out of music which follows!

At six years old in Lakeland, Florida, Wendy heard her older brother practicing the clarinet. Even though the sounds were rather frightening at times, she wanted to learn to play it. He charged Wendy $5 a minute to try it out. She waited five long years to inherit his Noblet clarinet. While awaiting her time to play the licorice stick, she discovered the classical music station, and Wendy was hooked. She could not get enough of this newly discovered music and knew it would be a main part of her life. As Wendy got older, she would record the classical station on cassette tapes just like her father would record classic rock songs for their travels to fastpitch softball tournaments. Then in the eighth grade came the discovery of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto thanks to a gift from her mother. It was Wendy's first classical CD, and she had no idea who was performing it and could not pronounce the German name, but that did not matter. Life was never the same; Wendy knew she wanted to be a performer.

While working through scales, etude books and solo repertoire, Wendy was also playing year-round travel fastpitch softball. Her private lesson teacher was against this other passion Wendy shared with music. So, to avoid the countless lectures about breaking bones or trying less dangerous sports, Wendy and her family decided to hide her softball life from her teacher. Ironically, it wasn't until the end of her graduate studies that broken bones became an issue! In high school, Wendy participated in as many musical opportunities she could possibly fit into one day outside of her lessons and Symphonic Band rehearsals. She participated in the jazz band on alto saxophone, competed in concerto competitions and performed solos with the local professional orchestra and organizations supporting classical music, and also joined the percussion section of the younger band at her school. Her senior year, Wendy was ecstatic to receive her acceptance letter to attend a music conservatory.

Wendy earned her bachelor’s degree from the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University where she studied with Edward Palanker of the Baltimore Symphony. During her senior year at Peabody and before starting her graduate program, Wendy studied with Mark Nuccio of the New York Philharmonic and Yehuda Gilad. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado, studying with Bil Jackson of the Colorado Symphony, where she also earned a triple fracture in her left thumb from picking up softball again right before her audition for the Marine Band.

Prior to moving to Montana three years ago, Wendy was a clarinetist in “The President’s Own” Marine Band in Washington, D.C., performing for Presidents George W. Bush and Barrack Obama. During this time, she performed as a soloist, chamber musician and coordinated outreach programs throughout the United States. She enjoyed her time in the band, making several life-long friends and memories of our country's top leaders. During a secret rehearsal at the White House, Wendy will never forget the sheer look of panic from President Bush's Chief of Staff's face while the President nonchalantly conducted “Stars and Stripes” for the first time. She was grateful for the compassion and gratitude that President Obama had for his band every time they performed for his events. One of the things she most appreciated about being a part of the band was performing and traveling on the band's national concert tour, bringing world class music to small towns all over the country. Wendy has also performed with several orchestras including the Colorado Symphony, Cheyenne Symphony, Ft. Collins Symphony and New Orchestra of Washington.

Since adjusting to her new life back in Billings, where she previously lived until the age of five, Wendy has been thrilled to become a part of two Montana orchestras in the same year, including the Bozeman Symphony. She is excited to be performing with the Bozeman Symphony and playing with and meeting such wonderful and diverse personalities and musicians. She has enjoyed the transformation of the music with the ensemble from the first rehearsal to the final performance; the reaction of the audience was incredible after her first concert with the orchestra in September. Wendy feels fortunate to be a part of such an energetic music family and supportive local community. She cannot wait to see what musical adventures are in store for her and the rest of the Bozeman Symphony.Currently, Wendy has started a private lesson studio and is also a member of the Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale. She is a substitute teacher for several of the Billings schools’ band teachers. The best compliment she may have ever received came from a fifth grader who stated, “Wow, you play clarinet better than Squidward!” Wendy has started a clarinet choir for high school students with the goal of including a choir for younger players soon. Wendy is in the process of establishing a non-profit program to provide opportunities for every child to have more music education in their lives. Her goal is to see a symphony orchestra of 8 to 10-year-olds that includes children playing mini bassoons!Outside of her love for music, Wendy also coaches middle school fastpitch softball at Castle Rock Middle School in Billings. She started umpiring fastpitch softball tournaments this past summer and has finally gotten used to being called “Blue”. ​​

When she's not calling balls and strikes or instructing on the fastpitch field, Wendy can be found playing “competitive” coed and women's slowpitch softball during the summers.

​Wendy's favorite activities besides music involve adventures with her partner-in-crime, Chad, their two dogs, Nala and Yoda, and two cats, Molly and Eli.

Carrie Krause, Concertmaster of the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra, brings tremendous talent and leadership to the ensemble alongside Maestro Matthew Savery. In addition to her role with the orchestra, Carrie has performed as soloist from the Leipzig Bach Festival to the Boston Early Music Festival, and as a member of Apollo's Fire at the BBC Proms (all while maintaining a large violin studio here in Bozeman). As Artistic Director, Carrie, with Baroque Music Montana and the Bozeman Symphony, present the Period Performance Workshop, August 24th-26th, in Bozeman. We are pleased to announce the workshop is now in its third year. Past participants have included violins, violas, cello, bass, harpsichord, guitar, lute, flute, and recorder, ranging from high school students to amateur adults to professional players from across Montana.

Carrie truly brings a superior level of artistry and history to Montana with her inspiring performances and was fortunate to purchase a 17th century violin in 2016. When asked about her playing and instrument, "I am a player of old music, in love with the influence and inspiration found in historical resources, and finding this violin was the fruit of a three year search for a historical instrument. I've been hoping to find an instrument that had a story to tell, whom I could feel lucky to be a steward, supporter, and protector for whatever short span of its long musical life our paths intersected.

photo credit: Tarisio

The violin, from approximately 1720, was built by Mathias Klotz (1653-1743), the first in a large family of instrument makers in Mittenwald, Germany. Mathias is thought to have studied instrument making with both Jacob Stainer (known as one of the most famous luthiers of his time in Europe before Stradivari) and with master Giovanni Railich, in Padua, Italy. Mathias benefited geographically from the excellent tone woods of the Karwendel mountains situated along an excellent trade route, spawning a large family legacy of violin makers and workshops.

Carrie shares with us her finding of the instrument, and the steps taken before their performance debut:"While back in New York for a Bach B minor Mass, I found this instrument at the Tarisio auction house just off Times Square. While I was away at the Red Lodge Music Festival, the violin arrived in a box, without a case and wrapped in bubble wrap, the sound post and bridge taken down for shipping safety.

Unable to play it or hear it sing, imagine my longing impatience only able to admire its beautiful, interesting old wood, long scroll, and arched top. On my way to the Oregon Bach Festival, I took it to David Kerr's shop in Portland to be set up and fitted with a historical bridge and tailpiece. The instrument was rather cranky for about a week--as like athlete's that love to run, instruments begin to sing when they are played--and this instrument hadn't run in its original historical set up in who knows how long! Since then, we've enjoyed some lovely mornings out on our deck exploring seventeenth century preludes, Bach and Pisendel sonatas, and hours of resonant double stops. At Quinn's Hot Springs, the instrument made its concert debut at the Montana Baroque Festival!

"I'm so looking forward to having this colorful, sensitive, swarthy instrument as my closest companion through this next winter season."

For players interested in period performance, register for the 2018 Period Performance Workshop! Full details available online here.

Percussionist Kristofer Olsen moved to Bozeman in August 2013 and is celebrating his fifth season with the orchestra! His wife Allison is an Assistant Professor in the English Department at Montana State University so it is with thanks to her, Kris says, they get to live in Bozeman. Originally from Havre, Kris moved away in 1994 when he graduated from high school. When Allison was interviewing for the job at MSU, it helped immensely that his brother Josh and his wife Bina Peters (viola) were living here in Bozeman, and so the prospect of being in town with family was extremely desirable.

Kris currently teaches in the Education Department and School of Music at MSU, works part time for All About Pianos in Belgrade, teaches piano lessons out of his home, and is the choir director at Christ the King Lutheran Church. Talk about being busy, but it doesn’t stop there. He has volunteered at Meadowlark Elementary through his church and for the Girl Scouts now that his daughter is involved. He has also coached his daughter’s Blitzz Micro-Recreational Soccer team for a few seasons.

When Kris moved to town, he wanted to get involved musically because he was trying to establish himself both as an educator and musician while still completing his dissertation at Ohio University. He contacted the Symphony as well as principal timpanist Jeff Vick and shortly after, had an audition with Maestro Savery and Jeff. Since then, he has have been performing regularly as a section percussionist and “having a blast” he says.

Members of PercOrchestra from left to right: Kristofer Olsen, Jeff Vick, Stephen Versaevel, Mark Brown.

His musical interests started at a young age taking piano lessons in elementary school (around 3rd grade) and percussion in 6th grade. About his early music education Kris says: “I distinctly remember not wanting to be in choir because I didn’t want to be like my older sister (who was also in band so that didn’t work), but most of my friends joined choir in 6th grade and realized that I enjoyed music.” He eventually joined choir in 7th grade and sang in organized choir throughout high school and as an undergraduate at St. Olaf College. While at St. Olaf, Kris performed in both the St. Olaf Band and the St. Olaf Orchestra all four years.

Kris shares that he’s not exactly sure what inspired him to become a musician. “I had both positive and not-so-positive experiences in elementary music” he says. “I am told that I banged on pots, pans, anything as a baby and I wanted to play percussion because I thought it was cool. I remember getting hooked on mallet percussion as a 7th grader when the HS band director at the time put me in front of a xylophone and asked if I could read music to play it. Of course I could! It was like a piano that I struck with mallets! I would spend hours playing through method books in a practice room. I’ve always been interested in patterns and rhythm so my interest just kept progressing as I continued through school.”

About performing Kris says: “I enjoy the challenge of performing but I enjoy the collective creative process that is often a trademark of playing music. It’s one thing to learn a piece or even perform a piece by myself but it’s so much more fulfilling to communicate with other performers and our audience through our collective work. My favorite part of rehearsals or performances is catching the eye of a fellow musician in a nonverbal symbiosis.”

Kris enjoying a moment during rehearsal at Willson Auditorium.

As mentioned earlier Kris is celebrating his fifth season with the orchestra. About his involvement with the organization, Kris shares: “I cannot imagine our life in Bozeman without the Bozeman Symphony. It has been a vital part of my musical life since moving here. I have performed in regional/community ensembles since graduation from St. Olaf and regularly reflected on how I missed the technical achievements of those groups. The Bozeman Symphony gives me an outlet not only to challenge myself as a performer but to marvel at the accomplishments of my fellow players. I love listening to the gorgeous playing of my colleagues and being moved by their talents!”

This will be the first time Kris has participated in a collage performance. During the last collage concerts, Kris was attending his PhD graduation from Ohio University. Although he has heard of such performances at other institutions but have yet to witness one live.

Members of the percussion section featured during performances of Holiday Collage in December, 2016. Photo: Wesley White

This time, Kris gets to experience the spotlight. Along with members of the Symphony’s percussion section, Kris will be performing a piece entitled “Number Two.” It is a piece for steelpans, electric bass and drum set written by his friend and classmate from West Virginia University (where he did his master’s), Dave Longfellow. Mark Brown and Kris will be playing double seconds, Micah Jastrom will be playing double tenors, Jeff Vick will be playing cellos, Courtney Bury will be playing bass and Stephen Versaevel will be playing drum set.​The piece was composed for a group of WVU grads called the Dave Longfellow Ensemble, which developed after Kris graduated from WVU. The players of this ensemble Kris considers friends from the percussion and jazz studios. They basically started playing original tunes for steelpan because there isn’t a lot out there.

Dave, as described by Kris, is a brilliant player and musical mind. He has always enjoyed his use of interesting time signatures and grooves as well as his improvisational ideas for the group when they were playing.

Number Two features a number of interlocking patterns between the steelpans and bass over the multiple groove foundations of the drum set. The last time Kris performed this piece (on these same pans!) was at his last concert as a band director in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, before he returned to graduate school.

The students Kris performed with had witnessed a performance of the Dave Longfellow Ensemble at a steelpan competition in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and were similarly enamored with the infectious groove of the song.

Much like the lore of the instrument Kris will be playing on March 3rd and 4th, double seconds (which were named because they were the second steelpan invented), Number Two was the 2nd piece for the DLE that Dave wrote.

Kris is truly invested in this piece. He shares: “I absolutely love the opening of the piece that grows from a single player to the entire ensemble in a crescendo of patterns and instruments. The distinctive timbre of the steelpan, an instrument constructed from discarded oil barrels by young people in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1940s, is most definitely highlighted through the harmonic and melodic ideas of Dave Longfellow. I hope to increase the awareness of the Bozeman community to this instrument and am grateful that the BSO and Maestro Savery are allowing us to showcase them as part of the collage concert.”

Several components contribute to the excitement of collage and in Kris’ words, he says: “my understanding of the concept is that the music is non-stop. It breaks up the routine (an admittedly inadequate term) of a normal concert and allows for a chamber experience within the context of a symphony performance. With one piece leading into the next, the audience’s attention is shifted around the stage and the many timbres of the orchestra are showcased to a different level. I look forward to experiencing it as a performer and as an “audience member” when I’m not performing!”Expanding on these thoughts, Kris shares that by attending a collage performance, audience members will get to see all the many talents of their orchestra and symphonic choir. “They get to hear solos, duets, ensembles and the full orchestra and symphonic choir all in one performance! And, selfishly, we get to play steelpans so they should come to hear that! I just believe it is a tremendous showcase of the talent we have in the BSO and Symphonic Choir and am thrilled to be a part of it!” he says.

Passion for what he does as a musician and community dominate the information Kris has shared with us today. In summary, he says: “as you can see, I struggle at being brief, especially when I’m passionate about something. I love “Short Ride in a Fast Machine” both as a listener and as a performer and am pumped to start rehearsing it. The last time I performed it, I was in college, which was over 20 years ago! I love talking steelpan but it may not interest others as much as it does me. Every time we play Number Two, I envision my friends who developed the parts we are playing and it is almost like I am playing with them. I still am in touch with most of the original members of the Dave Longfellow Ensemble and will be performing with the guitar (cello) player (Jeff Vick’s part) this summer! Hopefully this performance will spark some more interest in the instruments and I can teach more Bozemanites about pan! Thanks!”

]]>Thu, 01 Mar 2018 21:51:26 GMThttps://www.bozemansymphony.org/blog/a-unique-glimpse-into-the-members-of-the-orchestra-and-choirAs a young violinist, Cade Fiddaman explores multiple styles of music genres. You'll be lucky enough to hear his Celtic playing on March 3rd and 4th.

If you don’t know of him yet, you are about to discover Cade Fiddaman. We might even be bold enough to say, he’ll be the star of the upcoming 50th Anniversary Collage performances on March 3rd and 4th. Moving to Bozeman when he was about five years old, Cade has lived here for 13 years, participating with the Symphony for the past two seasons.

As a home-schooled student, most of Cade’s involvement in the community has been as a violinist/fiddler. In addition to the playing regularly with the Bozeman Symphony, he is currently involved with two contra-dance bands as well as a fiddle/cello duo with his brother.

In 2016, Cade’s violin teacher, Carrie Krause, recommended that he audition for the Symphony. Since, Cade says “I am now on my second season with the orchestra, and have no thoughts of stopping.”​

​Cade started playing violin when he was just two-and-a-half years old. Originally, he wanted to play the cello (and be like Yo-Yo Ma, he says,) but my parents couldn't find a cello small enough so he took up the violin instead (we think this was the right choice!). When Cade came to Bozeman, he started taking Celtic fiddle lessons, and now plays both Celtic and Classical styles regularly.

About playing music, Cade shares, “I think my favorite thing about playing violin is the ability to put emotion into music, I find this to be one of the most rewarding things there is.”

For Cade, playing in the symphony has been a wonderful experience. It has afforded him the opportunity to play great music with a skilled and dedicated group at a young age. “It has greatly increased my understanding, skill, and enthusiasm” he says.

Michael Mleko (left) and Cade Fiddaman (right) play at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds on July 4, 2016.

The collage experience was introduced to Cade last season as part of Holiday Collage in December, 2016. Cade played as an orchestra member, he did not perform any solo/chamber repertoire. This year, Cade’s solo will be one you’ll instantly start tapping your feet to. He will perform Calliope Meets Frank, a duo with assistant principal cellist Julia Cory Slovarp. The piece is a medley of three Scottish fiddle tunes: Calliope, MacArthur road, and Frank's reel, as arranged by Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas for their album Fire and Grace. This is a modern Scottish style, that although deeply influenced by traditional techniques, has a fresh edge with new grooves and expressions.

About the upcoming concert Cade shares: “I always enjoy listening to other musicians, it is also fun to play so many different styles. The collage program offers a unique glimpse into the members behind the orchestra and their personal styles and ideas, it also is an amazing chance to hear new styles and repertoire.” In other words, “It’s a lot of fun!”

]]>Thu, 01 Mar 2018 18:16:15 GMThttps://www.bozemansymphony.org/blog/sandy-stimson-on-mozarts-oboe-quartetThis very special piece will make you smile with amazement.

​​Not only will you recognize Sandra Stimson as the Principal oboe of the Bozeman Symphony, she is a member of the Absaroka Winds and the Bozeman Trail Chamber Players. These two groups perform chamber music at various locations along with educational shows in local schools. Sandra also performs with the Montana Ballet Company Orchestra in Bozeman. With the Billings and Helena Symphonies she frequently plays English horn. For 15 seasons she served as Principal oboe with the Breckenridge Music Festival Chamber Orchestra in Colorado, a professional summer music festival. Sandra is currently celebrating her 4th season with the Bozeman Symphony!

Sandra earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Ithaca College and a Master of Music degree from Yale University. Previous orchestral engagements include Principal oboe of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic in Indiana, Principal oboe of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in New Orleans, Principal oboe of the Billings Symphony and Acting Associate Principal oboe of the Omaha Symphony in Nebraska. Sandra has her own business making oboe and English horn reeds, with sales nationwide. Her website is: sandysreeds.com.

The Absaroka Winds ensemble. Sandra (left) is pictured with Pat and Paul Gates.

During upcoming performances of 50th Anniversary Collage on March 3rd and 4th, Sandra will be featured performing the Rondo movement from Mozart's Oboe Quartet. Musicians Mary Kamack Kothman, violin, Bina Peters, viola, and Julia Cory Slovarp will join her.

When asked about the piece Sandra says: "the Mozart Oboe Quartet is a very special piece to me. I remember as a teenager hearing the piece for the very first time. My parents and my sister "suffered" through a Mozart marathon performance with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in New York. The Oboe Quartet was performed at midnight! Ever since my first hearing of the piece I have performed it all over the country and am very excited to have the chance to perform the final movement on this year's collage concert. The Mozart Quartet is a terrific show piece with Mozart experimenting with the highest range of the oboe. I think Mozart had a wonderful time composing the piece for a oboist friend. If you listen closely you will hear his sense of humor throughout the movement. The piece should really make you smile with amazement."She also adds: "I am delighted to join my colleagues from the Bozeman Symphony and love the idea of the collage program. Not only is it a showcase for members of the orchestra and chorale but wonderful for individual colleagues to have the chance to hear each other in a chamber music setting."

Choir member Chip Ritter has settled into Bozeman, living here for the past seven years. However, his connection and fondness for our town go back to his childhood. Chip's father grew up in Bozeman along with four siblings and because he chose to serve in the Army, Chip didn’t grow up here. Regardless, some of Chip's first memories are of visiting his grandparents at their house on South 5th Ave.

Chip’s wife Nicole was born and raised in Great Falls and like many with roots in Montana, the couple looked for ways to come home after school, starting careers and, in their case, living abroad. When they moved back to the U.S., Chip and Nicole had family and a support system ready here in Montana. And, they’ve been here ever since! Chip says they couldn’t be happier with their choice, and neither could the Bozeman Symphony!

With two kids in the Bozeman Public Schools, Chip volunteers as much as he is able in their classrooms and for the activities they’re involved with. Whether it’s teaching coding sessions to his daughter’s class or working on Emily Dickinson’s new playground, he feels it is satisfying to be part of the “public” in public schools.

With a son in High School (a freshman at BHS) parental involvement has taken on a whole new meaning. He’s involved in cross country, marching band, and speech and debate, so opportunities to support him and those activities abound.

Chip with his wife Nicole Rosenleaf Ritter, an alto in the Symphonic choir, and their two children.

The couple auditioned for the Symphonic Choir the first fall they were in Bozeman. It wasn’t even a question Chip says. “We met singing, and music had been a part of our lives since we were kids. We hadn’t had the opportunity to sing with a group like this for quite a long time and needed, quite literally needed, to have music and singing part of our lives again. We’ve been singing with the Symphonic Choir ever since.”

Like many children, Chip started playing instruments in elementary school. Beginning with the trumpet in 4th grade, in middle school moving to the baritone, and in high school playing the tuba. Band was his thing. During sophomore year of high school, he saw some friends in a school musical and said to himself, “I need to do that!” and joined choir the next semester.

​Singing in choirs has given Chip so many opportunities, and he says he couldn’t be more grateful. “I met my best friends singing in college. I met my wife Nicole singing with the Montana Youth Choir under the direction of my uncle, Paul Ritter. I’ve been able to travel and sing in famous venues across Europe and made the world a little smaller communing with singers in those countries through music. Making music isn’t just something I love to do. It is the centerpiece of my personal wellness plan. I look forward to Monday night rehearsals every week. Afterward, I feel as good as if I’d just spent two hours at the gym or on a hike. It’s the same high for me. And, when the season is over, I miss that time terribly.”

About being a part of the Symphony Chip says: “It’s given me the opportunity to give back to Bozeman. It’s kept me healthy. It’s introduced me to new people and allowed me to make new friends. I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity.”

With past participation as part of small groups that were featured during the last two collage concerts, Chip will be a featured soloist this time around. For the upcoming performances on March 3rd and 4th, he will sing a piece entitled Fussreise from Hugo Wolf’s (1860-1903) Mörike-leider (1888), settings of poems by Eduard Mörike (1804-1875).

Fussreise relays the storyteller’s experience of how walking through the woods makes him feel closer to his Creator, like Adam must have felt in the first days of Eden, and his hopes to remain present in that moment. Chip says: “I think it’s particularly relatable for Bozeman.” Fellow Symphonic Choir member and piano teacher, Karen Abelin (soprano) will join Chip as his accompanist.

We asked Chip what makes collage concerts so exciting to which he says: “collage concerts are exciting because they give us musicians a chance let loose a little. We get to sing and play pieces we wouldn’t normally get to perform for you—pieces audience members might not have a chance to experience here in Bozeman. Collage concerts are as much fun for us as we hope they are for the audience.”

Members of the bass section having way too much fun!

In Chip’s words, if you haven’t seen a collage performance before, “they are incredibly fun! You just don’t know what’s going to come at you next. It could be an opera chorus, a percussion piece, solo violin, full orchestra, uplifting, dramatic, humorous, silly…it’s a unique musical experience!”

]]>Tue, 27 Feb 2018 18:50:41 GMThttps://www.bozemansymphony.org/blog/a-magical-way-to-weave-together-many-different-styles-of-musicFor Nancy, sharing music with the Bozeman community is a real joy.

Settling into Bozeman in 2002, Nancy Ojala has been an active music educator in the community. After retiring from Bozeman High School, she still participates as a substitute teacher for the music department and as an accompanist for some of the middle school programs. Outside of the Bozeman Symphonic Choir, Nancy can be found singing in her church’s gospel choir, as a KGLT DJ on the first and fifth Sunday of each month for the Sunday Classical Show, and as a Stephen’s Minister at Bozeman's United Methodist Church. Aside from these fantastic community commitments, the most important thing she gets to do, Nancy says, is to babysit her three-year-old granddaughter. Nancy is also a big supporter of the Symphony, generously donating her time to serve on the Board of Directors and on the planning committee for the Symphony's 50th Anniversary Birthday Bash held this past January.

Upon moving to Bozeman, Nancy started singing with the Symphonic choir and her contribution hasn’t gone unnoticed assisting with sectionals as the choir learns new music for concerts. Of her accomplishments Nancy shares: “my high school choir sang with the Symphonic choir and Symphony orchestra on Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Last December I was privileged to conduct a small ensemble as part of the collage concert.”

Nancy sings during performances of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

Nancy began singing as a small child. She sang in school and church choirs all the way through high school. Her high school choral director was very influential in her decision to major in music education in college. Additionally, she took piano lessons from 4th grade through college and dabbled in the violin from 4th through 9th grade. About her involvement with the Bozeman Symphony, Nancy says: “being able to share inspiring music with the Bozeman community has been a real joy for me personally. Music is such a great and expressive way to communicate with all age levels of people.”

Having been involved with 2 other collage concerts, Nancy shares that “these concerts are simply a magical way to weave together many different styles of musical selections into one beautiful experience with light and sound. All ages of people can enjoy the fast-paced movement of this concert and be surprised and inspired by the various small ensembles and large group selections which fit together so perfectly." Her participation in upcoming performances of 50th Anniversary Collage on March 3rd and 4th, 2018 will include conducting a small acapella vocal ensemble. The ensemble will sing a Czech folk song about springtime.

In Nancy’s words about the performance: "the pacing of each song and the melting together of one piece with another is truly unique in the collage concerts. You will be “blown away” by the exciting light and sound show the collage concert offers. It showcases so many wonderful small ensembles and the whole Symphony and Symphonic choir. The variety of musical styles and tempos of the pieces is really captivating for all ages of people. The addition of the amazing light show in combination with the extraordinary music really makes the concert an experience you don’t want to miss.”

]]>Mon, 26 Feb 2018 22:56:37 GMThttps://www.bozemansymphony.org/blog/musical-snapshotsPrincipal timpanist Jeff Vick and why the percussion section has become the "stars of the show" over the years.

Principal timpanist Jeff Vick moved to Bozeman in August 1989 from Tucson, AZ and joined the Bozeman Symphony shortly after. Jeff brings a vast amount of orchestral playing experience to the organization which has included performing with the Tucson Symphony, Denver Municipal Band, numerous community orchestras, in addition to performing in church settings.

As an educator in the public schools, Jeff currently teaches at Anderson School celebrating his 25th year, at Montana State University and LaMotte School (celebrating his 7th year) as well as teaching a private percussion studio.

Starting with piano lessons in Kindergarten, Jeff continued his musical interests by joining band in the fourth grade. It was with this ensemble he had some great experiences playing in select city wide honor groups and was led by a very inspirational band director in Junior High School. By seventh grade, Jeff had decided that being a band director and player was “what I wanted to be when I grew up.” He then started sitting in on big band gigs with his private teacher in Junior High, working up to paying gigs (combos, community theater shows) in high school.

The Bozeman Symphony was the first musical group Jeff became part of after moving to Bozeman. Jeff shares: “[the Symphony] helped lead to working with other organizations in the community (opera later that first year, Montana Ballet when they used primarily BSO members for the first Nutcracker with live music instead of a recording in 1993, Montana TheatreWorks for their first several shows starting in 1995 (the first couple Matthew was conducting), before taking a break & returning a few years ago to their summer productions. Some of my closest friendships have been made through connections either playing or socially through the symphony.”

If you’ve attended collage performances (or really any performance) with the Bozeman Symphony you know that the percussion section can easily become the stars of the show. The percussion section has had a piece or two featured on every collage concert since the first one in 1998, as well as having the opportunity to be a part of other mixed ensemble works featured as part of the collage concerts.

Photo: Wesley White

For upcoming performances on March 3rd and 4th, three different pieces and group combinations will feature the percussion section. These include “Dream Catcher” for marimba, vibraphone and other percussion featuring players Stephen Versaevel, Kris Olsen, Mark Brown and Micah Jastram. PercOrchestra (the Far Afield ensemble) has been doing this one for a few years.

“Number 2” is for Steel Drums (the hammered oil drum barrel instruments from Trinidad strongly associated with Caribbean music) again including the members of the percussion section: Stephen Versaevel, Kris Olsen, Mark Brown and Micah Jastram, along with Cortney Bury on Bass.

Additionally, Jeff will be playing one movement of Astor Piazzolla’s “Histoire du Tango” on marimba with Sue Makeever on flute. Jeff has played this piece for smaller audiences in the past and is very much looking forward to having the opportunity for a wider audience to hear this work and the combination of flute and marimba.

In Jeff’s words: “The variety of pieces and fast pacing – large and small groups, many “musical snapshots” that represent both the large ensemble experience (orchestra and choir) as well as showcasing smaller chamber music groups and the individual musicians who make up the BSO and Symphonic Choir make collage performances exciting."

Jerry and Sue Makeever have both dedicated many, many years, to the Bozeman Symphony with Jerry currently celebrating 43 seasons and Sue, celebrating 29 seasons with the orchestra! Jerry and Sue settled into Bozeman in 1987 after spending a year living apart. Sue had been teaching at the University of North Texas while Jerry was teaching here at MSU. The couple decided Bozeman was a better place to live and raise a family which includes their two children Megan and Matt. Their family has contributed greatly to the Symphony with each of them participating over the years with Matt on trumpet, and Megan on flute and piccolo.

Jerry, Megan (Ali), Matt, and Sue Makeever.

Sue has been immersed in Bozeman’s musical community teaching flute, coaching a flute choir, playing in the woodwind quintet at MSU, a private studio, and playing in the Bozeman Symphony, Intermountain Opera, and Montana Ballet. She recently retired from the Billings Symphony after 22 years!

Sue's musical interests were sparked early on. At the age of five, her grandmother took her to the Philadelphia Orchestra where she heard flutist William Kincaid, and at that moment, knew she wanted to play. This experience inspired her passion for playing music and later as a music educator in her professional career. Her involvement with the Bozeman Symphony first began by subbing in the symphony when she first came to Bozeman, then moving into the piccolo spot and now as the current principal flute. Players in the Symphony, along with Sue, know that the concert season keeps them very busy from September to April. Sue shares: “I love orchestral music, and even though my earnings from the symphony don't financially support me, I am lucky to be doing what I love. I still enjoy the process and challenge.”

As a featured musician during upcoming performances of “collage,” a part of the Symphony’s ongoing 50th anniversary celebration, you can see and hear Sue perform in the spotlight. “The collage is a unique experience. I have been lucky to be featured a few times and it is exciting to present this to the public. The scariest part of the collage is to know exactly when to come in, as each piece needs to fit organically into the next selection” says Sue.

Performing the first movement of the Histoire du Tango by the Argentinian composer, Astor Piazzolla, Sue will be joined by principal timpanist Jeff Vick on marimba. The movement titled “Bordel 1900” was originally written for flute and guitar in 1986. It is a lively dance representing women's chatter in the bordellos and dance halls. This feature is just one snippet of the many musical selections that comprise the entirety of collage. In Sue’s words: "Matthew's programming is excellent! There is never a dull moment!”

Join Sue and the musicians of the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Choir on Saturday March 3rd and Sunday March 4th at Willson Auditorium.